Thursday, December 15, 2011

What is My BMI?

When I ask my patients or clients what their height is, I
get a quick response. When I ask them
their weight I get a hesitated response but I do get a number. When I ask these same people what their body
mass index (BMI) is I get blank stares of uncertainty. BMI is a good and reliable screening
instrument of body fat for people. A
reliable tool is one that actually measures what it is meant to measure. BMI is calculated by comparing weight and
height.

To calculate your BMI you will need your weight in kilograms
and your height in meters. The equation
is as follows:

BMI = weight (kg) / (height (m))2

I’ll give you a second to calculate that …

….

….

Ok, BMI ranges fall into these categories:

·18.49 or less = underweight

·18.5 to 24.99 = normal weight

·25 to 29.99 = overweight

·30 to 39.99 = obese

·40 and higher = morbidly obese

Some disparities need to be noted. “At the same BMI, women tend to have more
body fat than men. At the same BMI, older people tend to have more body fat
than younger adults. Highly trained
athletes may have a high BMI from increased muscularity rather than increased
body fatness.”1

These numbers can serve as a good guideline for your
overall health. Those who have higher
BMIs or are overweight are at higher risk for many health problems involving
the joints, lungs, and heart. If you
found your BMI to be higher than you expected you should talk to your physician
about a diet and exercise plan. Exercise,
such as the group fitness classes at Hayashida and Associates, has proven to
lower BMI while improving overall health.
Do I smell a New Year’s Resolution?